After slipping to fourth, we're back up to third. http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings It's kind of incredible--what with how much angst permeates this board and how crappy most of us (including me) think we've played half the time--but the fact remains: via an objective formula that's weighted based on historical correlations, the Houston Rockets appear to be the third most talented team in the NBA this season. Now honestly, i think it's way overrating us. Nevertheless, maybe it's a little too early to press the panic button. Nah, who am I kidding, on CF it's never too early...
Yeah reading the GARM is probably the last thing you want to do if you want to know how well the team is actually playing in midst of back to back bad losses. Despite our record we are still... 4th in point differential Tied for 2nd in offensive efficiency Tied for 10th in defensive efficiency 4th in off/def efficiency differential(behind only Indy, Miami and SA) These 4 things do a much better job of showing the actual quality of our team than our 13-7 record does.
Heat were 9-8 with everyone healthy and has the best player in the world. Rockets were 12-5 with some injuries to let players. Also we gave 3 games away. The team is still finding its groove and I am very excited for what the could become!
I don't think it is a direct comparison bro. I may be wrong but I have a good grasp of the English language. He might be saying it may be a little too early to judge when we have added a major piece as in Dwight Howard and that changes the dynamic, chemistry and flow of the entire starting unit. Same way adding a Lebron and Bosh changed their (the heats) chemistry and they had to work through the highs and lows that came with that change. For God's sake the Rockets couldn't throw a damn entry pass into the post until the 10th game of the season.
When the Rockets lose _ they lose ugly and it shakes people up around here. But I'm one to think they are playing well despite those bad moments being a young and relatively new team and trying to incorporate Howard into the fold... And in an 82 game season _ it's just going to be nights when the team doesn't look good...
Zac Lowe and Bill Simmons said the other day on the BS report about how the Rockets are a team that people would think are alot worse than they really are just because when they do lose, its usually very very ugly, and when they win they just blow teams out, and those blowouts are forgettable. Point being, they dont get in close, memorable games very often. However, statistically, they are producing wins, and in theory are one of the top teams. The main thing that worries me is the TOV %. If they can cut down just 3 to 4 turnovers a game, their defensive production will increase, and so should their overall outlook as a team. That and health of course.
Iman Shumpert? Klay Thompson? One of the many guys that stupid kneejerk posters have suggested trading Harden for? Hmm...
13-7 record is pace for 53-29 season. I remember at the beginning of the year most fans had us between 50~55 wins. If anything, the Rockets are performing as expected by fans. And this is despite having a worse than average injury situation, especially if you count Asik being a whiner as part of our injuries.
It's true that we're vastly underperforming our point differential, but part of this can be attributed to poor chemistry and as you say injuries. In fact, you can probably chalk up such things as our high team turnover rate and Dwight's godawful FG% (I think the GSW announcers said 35%) and TO rate (21%) in the post to this fact as well. By the time the playoffs roll around, you me and JVG should all be maintaining our very high expectations for this squad. I STILL haven't watched a Rockets game this year and thought to myself, "you know what? They simply have more talent than us." And I don't know if I ever will, if Dwyane Wade stays sidelined.
I still think Miami and OKC have more talent than us. Probably the Pacers too assuming they continue their play. But perhaps that's why it can be so infuriating to watch this team. Every loss it seems like we "lost" the game more than the other team "won" the game.
I don't think I agree with OKC. There talent falls off quite a bit after KD and Westbrook IMO. I like Ibalka but he is overrated IMO, McHale completely took him out of the play-off series last season. I like Jeremy Lamb and think he will be significant player at some point and is already playing well. Top to bottom Houston has more talent IMO just no one as good as KD.
Regardless, I think we can all agree that the Rockets are talented. The fact that they're 14-7 despite Lin, Beverley, Harden, Parsons, Asik all out for stretches this year speaks volumes to the base talent. The scary thing is that the Rockets talent can only get higher from here. I'm as big an Asik fan as any here, but he's been a dud so far. Any player we get for him will be an improvement. Our own players will get better with experience. And we have picks to facilitate deals. Big picture wise, I am stoked. I certainly feel better about us than the other "media darlings" to start the year with Golden State and NJ.
